Man found dead along 5 Freeway in Burbank was Alaska Airlines pilot

A 55-year-old man found dead along an off-ramp of the 5 Freeway in Burbank was an Alaska Airlines pilot, sources said Wednesday.

A passerby spotted the body along a fence at the Scott Road off-ramp about 6 p.m. Tuesday and called authorities, said Burbank Police Sgt. Darin Ryburn. Paramedics arrived and pronounced the man dead.

He was identified as Clifford Morris of Richland, Wash., Ryburn said.

Sources confirmed Morris was an Alaska Airlines pilot who was in town on business. He had been staying at a local hotel.

Detectives were waiting on coroner's officials to determine a cause of death, Ryburn said. There were no obvious signs of injury -- no gunshot or stab wounds, and no evidence Morris had been struck by a car. His wallet and identification were also with him, indicating robbery was probably not a motive.

"We absolutely don't know," Ryburn said.

An autopsy would probably be completed by Thursday, he added.

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Map: Approximate area where body was found. Credit: Google Maps